Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-30
Iron ImportatlOns.

With o duty upon all iron, excepting
only charcoal iron, that admittedly covers
the full difference between the cost Of
labor at home and abroad, our iron and
steel impOrtations have steadily increased
during the present year. Why is il? and
what is the remedy?
Why have 4l5, 900 tons of pig-iron been
imported this year when only 81, 900
were imported in the same ten months of
last year? Why have 112,OO tons of steel
rails been imported this year as against
n, 900 last year? One of three causes
must explain the increase. First, in
adequate duty to protect the difference
in the cost of labor, and that is not
claimed to be the cause. Second, in
creased prices fixed by our manufacturers
TO the extent that impOrtations are in
yited Third, such an exceptional de-
preston in the foreign iron trade that
manufacturers are compelled to seek our
market aud sell ut loss. In 1872 the
iron manufacturers destroyed their own
trade and bankrupted many in their bust
ness, by meeting = sudden demand for iron
with excessive prices, and before they had
gratified their greed, they found that for
eign ir0n-prOducing countries had glutted
our market In short, they killed the
goose that promised them continued gold
en- eggs. As iron is not commanding ex
cessive prices now, the logical explanation
of the large importatiOns in the temporary
depression of foreign trade, cause that
cannot be reached by legislation in any
channel of business enterprise.
What is the obvious remedy for our
iron manufacturers Is it in increased
duties and in increased cost 10 consumers
to meet an exceptional emergency. Surely
not. In this progressive aye, when cheap
ness of product is the aim Of all thrifty
industries, the plain need of our manu-
iacturers is CheaDened raw material.
When our iron manufacturers are COM
PEELED to buy and import 100 900 tons of
foreign ore per month, or POI, 600 year,
and pay a high duty on it, Is it not notice
10 both government and manufacturers
that free iron ores are q necessity to
manufacturers and to labor? In what
way could more substantial protection he
given 10 our iron interests, both capital
and labor, than by cheapening the pro-
duct of iron in this country when it can he
done without cheapening the wages of
labor?
The true theory of the protective policy
il to create aud maintain diversified in
dustries until they can main tain them
selves, and whenever consumers are need
lessly taxed to maintain them, it is wan
ton and mexcusable oppression of the
many for the benefit of the few. We have
everything to gain by cheapening the pro-
ductiOn to the fullest extent that it can he
done without reducing the requital OF
labor. Cheapened production enlarges
consumption; enlarged consumption null
tiplies the profit OF both capital and labor,
and every dollar that the production of
iron is cheapened in this country is vastly
more than n dollar OF additional protection
to our labor. The tariff is ont of joint and
the chief hindrauce to its wise revision is
in the common effort of destructive tree
traders and greedy mOnOpolists who reject
all tariff theories which proffer protection
and prosperity TO the great Industries Of
the nation.